HERRING FISHERIES. 177 



ftrate by the particular proceedings of the Hollanders, 

 in their pinks and bufies, what certain gain they 

 yearly mife out of thern ; and when experience, the 

 mother of knowledge, fhall make it apparent to you, 

 I hope you will remember what you are, and how 

 eafy you may make yourfelf and country by it. 



" Fom the Texel in Holland to Brafound in Shet- 

 land, an ifland belonging to his majefly's dominions 

 in Scotland, is two hundred thirty and odd leagues, 

 whither there refort the 2 ad or 231! of June well nigh 

 2000 fifhing vetfels. The 24th they put to fea, being 

 prohibited till that day, and a penalty upon the 

 breaker thereof, holding the herrings till then unfea- 

 fonable to fait, for their fatnefs. 



" Every one of thefe veflels that day directs its 

 courfe to find out the fhoal of herrings, like a hound 

 that purfues the head of a deer in hunting : when 

 they have laden their bufles, which is fooner or later, 

 as they find the fhoal of herrings, they presently re- 

 turn home for Holland, and leave their herrings 

 afhore to be there repacked, and from thence imme- 

 diately to be fent into the Sound (the Baltic), where 

 they receive them for a great dainty. 



<f The bufies having thus difburthened thernfelves 

 in Holland, once more furnifhed with vidhials, cafks 

 and fait, they repair to fea to look out the fhoal they 

 had formerly left j and then finding them, and filling 

 them once again, they do as they did before, return 

 to Holland. 



<c Nor thus ceafmg, the third time they repair to 

 the fhoal, as aforefaid ; and in their three fifhings, 

 computing with the lead, they take to the number of 

 100 lafts of herrings, which being valued at ten 

 pounds the lad, which is not feventeen fhillings a 

 barrel, will amount to 1000 pounds flerling each 

 (hip. 



M M Many 



